Obituary of Oral George Blackard

Oral George "Slug" Blackard November 08, 1926 - June 06, 2013 Funeral services for Oral George “Slug” Blackard, 86, of Lovington, NM will be held on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 1:00 pm at First United Methodist Church with Reverend Dave Whitman officiating. Burial will follow at Lovington Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Kirby-Smith-Rogers Funeral Home. Slug was born on November 8, 1926 to George and Maggie (Middleton) Blackard in Bushtown, Arkansas and passed away at Nor-Lea Hospital on June 6, 2013. Slug married Juanita Ruth Acord on November 8, 1947 in Clarksville, Arkansas and they have shared 65 years together. He attended school in Clarksville until he joined the US Army during WWII serving as dispatcher and in the transportation pool. He graduated from High School while in the Army and attended College of the Ozarks on the G. I. Bill. He received his Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from Eastern New Mexico University and began his teaching career teaching math and coaching in Atkins, Arkansas in 1950. In 1954, he accepted a position at Lake Arthur, NM then moved to Lovington in 1956. He retired from Lovington schools in 1986 after teaching math, science and coaching football, basketball, track and golf. He also served as the Assistant Principal, Athletic Director and Principal at Lovington High School. Slug has been honored with Citizen of the Year in 1989, along with his wife; New Mexico Teacher’s Hall of Fame; Member of Rotary International, serving as president and secretary; member of NM Activities Association serving as Chairman of the Grievance Committee; longtime member of the Lovington Chamber of Commerce serving as President; Lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion; Member of the First United Methodist Church, serving in many capacities, including Administrative Board Chairman and Pastor Parish Relations Chairman and he was lay delegate to Annual Conference and a dedicated Sunday School teacher. He worked diligently and joyously with the Cornerstone Ministries through the Church. He was a lifetime member of the Church Choir, sharing his beautiful bass voice. Slug loved golf, hunting and fishing. He was a talented, versatile Christian man and will be missed by all. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant brother and his son-in-law, Jim Crow. He is survived by his wife, Juanita “Pudge” of the home; one daughter: Connie Crow of Lovington; two grandsons: Joshua Cody and wife Ashley Crow of Quanah, TX and George Casey and wife Jodi Crow of Canyon, TX; three great-grandchildren: Kimber Rose Crow, Ellis James Crow and Edge Ryan Crow; and two brothers: John Blackard of Rossville, Kansas and Bert Blackard of Independence, Kansas and a host of friends. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 from 9:00 am until 8:00 pm with the family in residence at the funeral home from 6:00 until 7:00 pm. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to First United Methodist Church, PO Box 745, Lovington, NM 88260 or to the George Blackard Memorial Scholarship Fund set up at Estacado Credit Union, PO Box 1082, Lovington, NM 88260.